In the new episode of “House of the Dragon,” the characters experience changes and transformations: the “Blacks” implement a new plan, while the “Greens” face personnel reshuffles.
Jason Lannister (Jefferson Hall) is preparing to go to Harrenhal but is currently staying at the castle of Golden Tooth, awaiting help from Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and his dragon Vhagar. The vengeful Targaryen, who is substituting for his brother Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney), is furious at the ongoing attempts to manipulate him.
The acting king has initiated major reshuffles: he ousted his mother Alicent (Olivia Cooke) from the Small Council, sent Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) to negotiate peace with the Triarchy, and dispatched Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) to wage war in the Riverlands. He is also seeking a new Hand of the King — preferring his grandfather Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) over Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), whose intentions irritate Aemond. However, Otto is in no hurry to respond to the letters. Meanwhile, in King’s Landing, the people’s hunger, caused by the “Blacks'” blockade, leads to mass riots, during which Alicent and Helaena (Phia Saban) barely escape with their lives. Meanwhile, the “Blacks” are trying to find riders for vacant dragons. Among them are Vermithor, Silverwing, and Seasmoke. Ser Steffon Darklyn (Anthony Flanagan), whose family has Valyrian blood due to his great-grandmother being a Targaryen princess, appears before Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy). Rhaenyra warns him of the risks, but Steffon is ready to take the chance. The ceremony to tame the fire-breathing beast seems to go as planned, and Seasmoke even bows its head to the contender, but when Steffon gets closer, the dragon burns him and one of his assistants.
Rhaenyra despairs of finding new riders after the horrific incident, which has clearly discouraged potential candidates. However, at the end of the episode, a messenger brings her joyful news: people have spotted Seasmoke, and someone has ridden it. It appears that the rider is Addam (Clinton Liberty), the brother of seafarer Alyn (Abubakar Salim) and the bastard of Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint).
Dragon in the Eyrie Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell), along with Rhaenyra’s children, spends time in the Vale, far from the war, while their overseas patron Prince Reggio even sends a letter expressing his willingness to shelter the “Blacks'” heirs in Pentos. However, the war reaches the Eyrie as well. During another walk, Rhaena notices vast scorched areas. Lady Jeyne Arryn (Amanda Collin) explains that this is the work of a wild dragon, which is venturing further in search of prey.
Aegon II recovers Covered in burns and horrific scars, the king sleeps nine hours out of ten and then dulls the unbearable pain with poppy milk. Alicent sympathizes with her son, but Aemond is clearly displeased that his brother has recovered; he has no intention of giving up the Iron Throne so easily. The king is also visited by Larys, who talks about his physical deformity and warns him against the use of painkillers: the schemer honestly tells Aegon that he now must keep his mind sharp, as it is his only functioning tool.
Mysaria and Rhaenyra grow closer, devising a cunning plan Daemon’s former lover and his wife destabilize the situation in the capital without leaving Dragonstone. On Mysaria’s (Sonoya Mizuno) orders, rumors spread in King’s Landing about how the king and his courtiers are living lavishly while the people starve. This enrages the common folk, including Ulf (Tom Bennett) and especially Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew), whose daughter is seriously ill. Amid the hunger, the “Blacks” secretly send boats with provisions to the common people, gaining their trust (and provoking fights over the food).
The successful operation endears Rhaenyra to her helper, who becomes not only something like her Hand but also her closest ally. Especially in the absence of Daemon, who demonstratively ignores everything the “Blacks” are doing and continues his self-imposed exile.
Daemon continues to hallucinate Harrenhal has a bad effect on the Rogue Prince, who now sees visions of his late brother Viserys (Paddy Considine). Daemon even considers leaving the castle but instead asks for help from the witch Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin). And a few days later, the elderly Lord Grover Tully dies (believe it or not, Alys was in charge of his treatment!), finally setting the political wheels in motion in the Riverlands. The long-incapacitated ruler is succeeded by the young Oscar Tully (Archie Barnes).
Quote: “You are not a player but a piece on the board. As am I, for that matter.”
Alys Rivers — to Daemon Targaryen
Verdict: The sixth episode, like the previous one, focuses on the consequences of the spectacular and brutal battle at Rook’s Rest. Perhaps this slows down the overall narrative too much. In general, the fifth and sixth episodes could have been edited into one without significant loss of meaning. Especially since almost nothing happens with the “Blacks.” Yes, they lost one potential rider but found another, which will likely be addressed in the upcoming seventh episode. And Daemon’s storyline has significantly stalled: from the Rogue Prince, he has turned into a paranoid man fixated on his past and unresolved traumas. On the other hand, the “Greens” are progressing more dynamically. After the king’s severe injuries, the Small Council is shaken by reshuffles, and Aemond gradually establishes himself as a vengeful, distrustful autocrat. An explosive mix!
One can only hope that in the remaining two episodes of this season, we will see some powerful battles involving dragons or large armies, especially since another round of civil war is brewing in the Riverlands. Aemond, in particular, is eager to challenge Daemon and slay his myth-enshrouded uncle.